THE HEARTH OF THE TURNING WHEEL HALLOWTIDE RITUAL 2011 - 2016

Introduction

This ritual requires a light in the east, a skull in the west, a stang near the north-west and the larger cauldron in the centre. All present should bring their own chalice or drinking horn.

Oil, incense, salt and water used as per usual practice.

Centring or grounding

“Now upon this Hallows night

Let spring open the dark gates of winter

By call of crow and toad beneath the stone

By smoke, by spirit, by flesh, blood and bone.”

Call of the Robin and the Marion

“Beloved Bloodmother of this our clan. Welcome us at this time, with your heart and womb. Let us learn to live in love with all you are and so our seeking spirit shall serve the Sacred Blood.”

“Beloved Father, speak to us in vision and do not abandon us to the grave. Nor hand us over to Hard Fate utterly, nor those whom our love protects.”

All in unison: “By the fire of dreams and the compulsion of sorcery. By knowledge, daring will and silence. By the tides of Earth, Sea and Sky. By flesh, blood and bone we call thee.”

All turn slowly on the spot widdershins while one other reads:

“We conjure thee compass round,

Be ye cast and be ye bound.

By road above and road below,

By snake and hare and toad and crow.”

(pause)

“By red spirits, white spirits, grey spirits and black,

We conjure thee by threefold track.

Be ye cast and be ye bound,

Hallowed be O compass round.”

Blessing and anointing with oil

When finished, return to the centre and bless the oil. Take a suitable oil and using wand, athame or hand bless and say: “I do consecrate and bless this oil, to drive out all impurities and make fit for use in this our rite.”

Each person will anoint the person to their left with this sign:

While saying: “You have walked this path in spirit (and) now (you) do so in flesh.” Please note that words in brackets are optional.

Blessing the elements

Light the incense, using wand, athame or hand bless and say: “I do consecrate and bless thee, O' elements of air and fire, to drive out all impurities and make thee fit for use in this our rite.”

Put three pinches of salt into the water, using wand, athame or hand bless and say: “I do consecrate and bless thee, O' elements of water and earth, to drive out all impurities and make thee fit for use in this our rite.”

Pick up the incense and say: “I scent this circle with air and warm this circle with fire. This I do in the name and power of our God the Lord of the Greenwood.”

Then carry the incense around the circle widdershins.

Pick up the bowl of salt-water and say: “With water and salt the symbol of our labour. I cleanse and bless this place in the name and power of our Goddess the Lady of the night.”

Sprinkle a little salt-water around the circle widdershins or at each compass point, north, south, east and then west.

Hallowing the compass: opening

I call thee, red spirits of the Eastward road.

Keepers of the flame of enlightenment and the blade of cunning.

I call thee, white spirits of the Southward road.

Keepers of the bones of memory and the stone of wisdom.

I call thee, grey spirits of the Westward road.

Keepers of the mighty waters and the cauldron of transformation.

I call thee, black spirits of the Northward road

Keepers of the dark winds of spirit and the skull of initiation.

All in unison: “We call thee, we call thee, we call thee. By flesh, blood and bone we call thee.”

Central focus

“Lo, there do I see my Father.

Lo, there do I see my Mother.

And my Sisters and my Brothers.

Lo, there do I see the line of my people back to the beginning.

They do bid me to take my place among them.”

Pause and then say (Griffith 2011):

“We stand between the quick and the dead.

We honour our ancestors, known and unknown.”

All present take a drink and then each in turn pours the remainder of their chalice contents into the cauldron.

“Ancestral powers of this our blood,

We are your people, guard us well.

By earth and air, by fire and flood,

By magick mime and spoken spell.”

Each person present takes a biscuit and taking a bite, crumbles the remainder into the cauldron.

Additional poetry may be included at this point followed by a few moments of silence in remembrance of the ancestors.

Hallowing the compass: closing

Grey Spirits of the Westward road, we thank you for your presence and aid in our rite and we bid you farewell.

White Spirits of the Southward road, we thank you for your presence and aid in our rite and we bid you farewell.

Red Spirits of the Eastward road, we thank you for your presence and aid in our rite and we bid you farewell.

Black Spirits of the Northward road, we thank you for your presence and aid in our rite and we bid you farewell.

All in unison: “We thank thee, we thank thee, we thank thee. By flesh, blood and bone we thank thee.”

Final closing

After a pause all in unison say: “By the fire of dreams and the compulsion of sorcery. By knowledge, daring will and silence. By the tides of Earth, Sea and Sky. May all beings and powers of the visible and invisible depart in peace. By flesh, blood and bone we do thank thee.”

One solitary voice: “This rite is now ended, may all depart in peace, with our blessings.”

The Chattering Magpie/Hearth of the Turning Wheel ©2011

REFERENCES

Artisson R.(2006) The Witching Way of the Hollow Hill: the gramaryre of the Folk who dwell below the mound. Owlblink Bookcrafting Company USA.

Chattering Magpie (Griffith D.B.) (2007) The Hearth of the Turning wheel Samhain ritual 2006. Hedge Wytch magazine issue 40 Samhain/November 2007 pp32-37

Chattering Magpie (Griffith D.B.) (2011) The Hearth of the Turning Wheel Hallowing of the Compass. Silver Wheel Volume 3. pp134-135.

Crichton M. (1976) Eaters of the dead. Knopf.

Gary G (2008) Traditional Witchcraft – A Cornish book of ways. Troy Books.

Grey W. (nd.) cited by Jones E.J. (1990) Witchcraft: a tradition renewed. Robert Hale, London.

Jones E.J. (1994) The Roebuck in the thicket. Capall Bann.

Jones E.J. (1990) Witchcraft: a tradition renewed. Hale. London.

Eachwen Colldwr (Palfreyman J.) (2010) The Hearth of the Turning Wheel Hallowtide Ritual 2009. Silver Wheel Volume 2. pp50-54

Sempers C. Raven G. (1998) Rite for the full moon. Privately published.

Shakespeare W.  (nd.) A Midsummer nights’ dream.

Valiente D. (1978) Witchcraft for tomorrow. Robert Hale, London.

Hallantide by Gemma Gary

Upon this night of Hallantide,

The veil betwixt to rend and part,

We conjure forth the Midnight ride,

By Devil’s Horn and Witching Arte.

Spirits of old arise ye forth,

Let quick and dead conjoin this night,

By the way ‘twixt West and North,

Let begin the Elder Rite!

Spirits, beasts and ghostly rade,

Open now the Way of the Dead,

Wilde horde of Witch and shade,

Open the way that Huntsman’s-led.

Cavalcade of Fellows all,

Ride ye forth with Devil’s speed,

Ride ye forth at Midnight’s call,

By Night-Mare’s hoof and spirit-steed.

By flight of moth by bat and owl,

By spirit path and old Corpse Way,

By Hunter’s horn and black hound’s howl,

By haunted track and ancient Ley.

Go ye forth in the Old One’s Name,

Throughout and about, without and within,

By the light of the Devil’s flame,

Let the Wild Hunt begin!

Incantation taken from ‘The Devil’s Dozen: Thirteen Craft Rites of the Old One’ by Gemma Gary. Published by Troy Books UK 2014. Text used with permission.

http://www.troybooks.co.uk/the-devils-dozen.html

The Red Flag (Jim Connel 1889)

The people's flag is deepest red,

It shrouded oft our martyred dead,

And ere their limbs grew stiff and cold,

Their hearts' blood dyed its ev'ry fold.

Then raise the scarlet standard high.

Within its shade we'll live and die,

Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer,

We'll keep the red flag flying here.

Look 'round, the Frenchman loves its blaze,

The sturdy German chants its praise,

In Moscow's vaults its hymns are sung

Chicago swells the surging throng.

Then raise the scarlet standard high.

Within its shade we'll live and die,

Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer,

We'll keep the red flag flying here.

It waved above our infant might,

When all ahead seemed dark as night;

It witnessed many a deed and vow,

We must not change its colour now.

Then raise the scarlet standard high.

Within its shade we'll live and die,

Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer,

We'll keep the red flag flying here.

It well recalls the triumphs past,

It gives the hope of peace at last;

The banner bright, the symbol plain,

Of human right and human gain.

Then raise the scarlet standard high.

Within its shade we'll live and die,

Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer,

We'll keep the red flag flying here.

It suits today the weak and base,

Whose minds are fixed on pelf and place

To cringe before the rich man's frown,

And haul the sacred emblem down.

Then raise the scarlet standard high.

Within its shade we'll live and die,

Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer,

We'll keep the red flag flying here.

With heads uncovered swear we all

To bear it onward till we fall;

Come dungeons dark or gallows grim,

This song shall be our parting hymn.

Then raise the scarlet standard high.

Within its shade we'll live and die,

Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer,

We'll keep the red flag flying here.

https://www.marxists.org/subject/art/music/lyrics/en/red-flag.htm

NINE KNOTS IN A CORD

By tooth and claw,

By flesh, blood and bone.

Nine knots in a cord,

For you who cast the first stone.

A heart pierced by thorns,

Is cast to the west.

I turn to face a new dawn;

But you shall not rest.

Text © Daniel B. Griffith the Chattering Magpie 2016

The Charge of the Goddess by Doreen Valiente

Listen to the words of the Great Mother, who was of old also called Artemis; Astarte; Diana; Melusine; Aphrodite; Cerridwen; Dana; Arianrhod; Isis; Bride; and by many other names. Whenever ye have need of anything, once in a month, and better it be when the Moon be full, then ye shall assemble in some secret place and adore the spirit of me, who am Queen of all Witcheries.

There shall ye assemble, ye who are fain to learn all sorcery, yet have not yet won its deepest secrets: to these will I teach things that are yet unknown. And ye shall be free from slavery; and as a sign that ye are really free, ye shall be naked in your rites; and ye shall dance, sing, feast, make music and love, all in my praise. For mine is the ecstasy of the spirit and mine also is joy on earth; for my Law is Love unto all Beings.

Keep pure your highest ideal; strive ever toward it; let naught stop you or turn you aside. For mine is the secret door which opens upon the Land of Youth; and mine is the Cup of the Wine of Life, and the Cauldron of Cerridwen, which is the Holy Grail of Immortality.

I am the Gracious Goddess, who gives the gift of joy unto the heart. Upon earth, I give the knowledge of the spirit eternal; and beyond death, I give peace, and freedom, and reunion with those who have gone before. Nor do I demand sacrifice, for behold I am the Mother of All Living, and my love is poured out upon the earth.

Hear ye the words of the Star Goddess, she in the dust of whose feet are the hosts of heaven; whose body encircleth the Universe; I, who am the beauty of the green earth, and the white Moon among the stars, and the mystery of the waters, and the heart’s desire, call unto thy soul. Arise and come unto me.

For I am the Soul of Nature, who giveth life to the universe; from me all things proceed, and unto me must all things return; and before my face, beloved of gods and mortals, thine inmost divine self shall be unfolded in the rapture of infinite joy.

Let my worship be within the heart that rejoiceth, for behold: all acts of love and pleasure are my rituals. And therefore let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honour and humility, mirth and reverence within you.

And thou who thinkest to seek for me, know thy seeking and yearning shall avail thee not, unless thou know this mystery: that if that which thou seekest thou findest not within thee, thou wilt never find it without thee. For behold, I have been with thee from the beginning; and I am that which is attained at the end of desire.

Text used with permission of the copyright holder.

Text © The Doreen Valiente Foundation.

http://www.doreenvaliente.com/doreen-valiente-poetry-11.php

http://www.doreenvaliente.org/

Black Annis by John Heyrick (1797)

On a Cave Called Black Annis's Bower being an answer to a very young lady's enquiries about the story of Black Annis.

Where down the plain the winding pathway falls,

From Glenn-field vill, to Lester's ancient walls,

Nature, or Art, with imitative power,

Far in the Glenn has plac'd Black Annis' Bower.

An oak, the pride of all the mossy dell,

Spreads his broad arms above the stony cell;

And many a bush, with hostile thorns array'd,

Forbids the secret cavern to invade;

Whilst delving vales each way meander round,

And violet banks with redolence abound.

Here, if the uncouth song of former days,

Soil not the page with Falsehood's artful lays,

Black Annis held her solitary reign,

The dread and wonder of the neighb'ring plain.

The Shepherd griev'd to view his waning flock,

And trac'd the firstlings to the gloomy rock.

No vagrant children cull'd the flowerets then,

For infant blood oft stain'd the gory den.

Not Sparta Mount* for infant tears renown'd,

Echo'd more frequently the piteous sound.

Oft the gaunt Maid the frantic Mother curs'd,

Whom Britan's wolf with savage nipple nurs'd;

Whilst Lester's sons beheld aghast the scene,

Nor dar'd to meet the Monster of the Green.

'Tis said the soul of mortal man recoil'd

To view Black Annis' eye, so fierce and wild;

Vast talons, foul with human flesh, there grew

In place of hands, and features livid blue

Glar'd in her visage; whilst her obscene waist,

Warm skins of human victims close embrac'd.

But Time, than Man more certain, tho' more slow,

At length 'gainst Annis drew his sable bow;

The great decree the pious Shepherds bless'd,

And general joy the general fear confess'd.

* Mount Taygetus, in a cavern near to which it was the Lacedoemonian custom to expose deformed and weakly children to perish.

From First Flights by John Heyrick junior.

Lieutenant in the Fifteenth (or King's) Regiment of Light Dragoons. Published London 1797